More speed cameras will be introduced in Oxfordshire, thanks to a Thames Valley Police Authority decision to back a major funding initiative.

Under a new scheme, the police, local authorities and courts will be able to use funds from traffic light and speed camera fines to increase the number of cameras on the roads and to educate the public about the dangers of speeding.

In the past, funding from speed camera fines went directly to the Treasury.

Last year, the Government chose Thames Valley as one of eight areas nationwide to benefit from the new funding system, which begins in April. Now the police authority has rubber-stamped the move. Insp Malcolm Collis, of Thames Valley Police, who is organising the changes, said: "Our speed enforcement policy directs officers to target roads where inappropriate speed is a proven cause of collision casualties.

"Responsible drivers who use appropriate speed have nothing to fear from this project. We want to target only those drivers who are a danger to themselves or others.

"This project will give us greater scope to pursue anti-social driving and to urge drivers to use some common sense when they are behind the wheel."

Police estimate that though there has been a 32 per cent reduction in road crash deaths since the mid 1980s, there are still three people killed on Thames Valley's roads every week and at least 17 seriously injured. At present, there are 311 roadside camera sites in the force area. Eighteen are operational and are rotated around the sites.

Police have not yet revealed exactly how many new speed cameras will be introduced as a result of funding changes.

Story date: Wednesday 23 February

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